Meet the teams

Liam Diggin
CEO AND FOUNDER
Qualifications
- Diploma in Financial Planning
- Certified Financial Planner
- Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning
Memberships
Liam is a member of the Financial Planning Association.
Getting personal
Liam was brought up in the NSW Northern Beaches and enjoys running, being a dad and is ever hopeful of an improvement to his short game.

Hamish Pearce
PARTNER & Senior Financial Planner
He has a strong commercial background, with extensive experience gained from working in large corporations, including Optus Communications and Sony Australia over a period of 20 years.
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Commerce
- Advanced Diploma in Financial Services
Memberships
Hamish is a Member of the Association of Financial Advisers (AFA).
Getting Personal
Hamish is married to Kimberley and has a busy household raising three boys. He loves sport, keeping fit, and is particularly passionate about golf, skiing and fishing. He lives for the day he shoots par.
Hamish is also a director on the Board of one of the charities that MENTOR1 supports – The MonSTaR Foundation which helps children with both physical and intellectual disabilities

Leon Phillips
Partner & Senior Financial Planner
Qualifications
• Advanced Diploma of Financial Services (Financial Planning)
Memberships
Associate Financial Planner with the AFA.
Getting personal
Leon grew up in Ballarat, Victoria. He enjoys running, flying his recreational aircraft and spending time with family.

Ned Ticic
Partner & Senior Financial Planner
Ned is a senior financial planner at MENTOR1. He has been a planner for over 20 years and has helped many clients reach their financial goals by growing, protecting and managing wealth over their lifetime.
Qualifications
• Bachelor of Commerce (Economics, Finance & Accounting)
• Diploma in Financial Planning
• Graduate Diploma of Law
Memberships
Ned is a member of the Financial Planning Association (FPA) and the Financial Services Institute of Australasia (FINSIA).
Getting personal
Ned is married with three kids. On weekends, he enjoys tennis and golf, and in season, sailing and snow-skiing. His favourite past-time is dining with family and friends and attending the visual and performing arts.

Renee Brennan
Office Manager and Adviser Associate
Renee has been working in the finance industry since 2005. She has had experience assisting with the administration of client accounts within different sectors including financial planning, accounting and self-managed super funds. Since commencing at MENTOR1. Renee has assisted in managing Liam’s clients including preparation and implementation of advice documents. As our business has grown and developed Renee has taken on the role of office manager.
Qualifications
• Advanced Diploma in Financial Planning
• Diploma in Financial Planning
• Certificate III Business Administration
Getting personal
Although Renee now calls the Northern Beaches home she grew up in Launceston, Tasmania. When she is not at work Renee spends her time with her son, enjoys boating and renovating.

Joel Kerin
Senior Financial Planner
Joel has been a financial adviser since 2017 and worked in the financial services industry since 2012. Joel is passionate about exploring and understanding each client’s unique and individual life situations in order for them to live their best life.
Qualifications
• Advanced Diploma of financial planning
• Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning
Memberships
Association of Financial Advisers (AFA)
Getting personal
Joel was born in regional NSW and was raised on a farm. After deciding to trade the country for the city to pursue studies and a career in finance it’s been hard for Joel to look back. Joel is an active member of the Sydney Swans and can be found on game day at the SCG cheering on the red & white! Joel also enjoys a very social lifestyle, good food & wine & playing golf and tennis.

Tim Murphy
Partner
Tim has been investing for over 20 years. With a large personal portfolio throughout Australia Tim has not only the academic knowledge of how real estate works but has personally lived and breathed the markets performance day in day over this time.
He has personally purchased over 30 properties, and has transacted in every entity and strategy possible, including past and current subdivisions & developments. Tim has developed insightful tools and a systematic planned approach to real estate that he has showcased by writing and conducting workshops & events throughout Australia.
Qualifications
• Licensed Real Estate Agent
• Diploma in Finance & Mortgage Broking
Memberships
Tim is a member of the Mortgage & Finance Association of Association.
Getting personal
In his spare time, Tim loves to spend his time at his local beach in Freshwater with
his wife and kids and squeezing in the occasional game of golf.

Nick Freeman
Acquisitions Manager
Qualifications:
- Qualified carpenter
- Licensed Builder
Getting Personal
Away from work, apart from chasing a young family, Nick can be found in the ocean surfing or swimming. Nick is also passionate about developing his knowledge further in the real estate and construction sectors.

Andrew McCombie
Partner
Qualifications
• B Commerce
• Chartered Accountant
• Tax Agent
Memberships
Andrew is a Chartered Accountant and Tax Agent.
Getting personal
Andrew has lived in Sydney for over 20 years and was brought up on the Mid North Coast. Family is important to Andrew, spending time with his kids. He enjoys playing soccer with a good group of friends who have been a team for the past 10 years.

Gerard Hansen
Partner & Mortgage Broker
Gerard is a highly regarded mortgage broker with over 20 years’ experience in Financial Services following 15 years in the banking industry with the major banks.
Qualifications
• Diploma in Financial Planning
• Certificate 4 Financial Services (Finance & Mortgage Broking)
Memberships
Gerard is a member of the Financial Brokers Association Australia (FBAA).
Getting personal
Gerard is married with 3 children + 2 Dogs. (always greeted at the door by the dogs!) Gerard’s involved with the Community through junior sports coaching Soccer and Basketball.
He loves to surf & really enjoys a long Sunday afternoon lunch with the family!

Mark Small
Partner & Mortgage Broker
With over 8 years of experience in the Finance Industry, 20 years Investing in Property & Business, and more than 30 years operating in the Aviation Industry as a Qantas Airline Pilot, Mark Small has a relatively interesting background compared to many other brokers in our network. Mark believes in helping people to achieve their finance goals, and gets them where they need to go – both in location and finance.
Qualifications
• Diploma in Financial Services (Finance & Mortgage Broking)
• Certificate 4 Financial Services (Finance & Mortgage Broking)
• Boeing 737 Captain
Memberships
Mark is a member of the Mortgage & Finance Association of Australia. (MFAA)
Getting personal
Mark is married with 2 children. Mark is involved in the Curl Curl Long-boarders surfing club with his 14 year old son.
He loves to surf, travel & really enjoys spending time with the family around the Northern Beaches.

Clare Terrance
Mortgage Broker
Clare has been in the finance industry for five years, with experience in both the bank lending and private lending sectors. She is confident in her ability to structure each loan application in a way that will most benefit the customer. Clare is diligent in keeping across bank policies and the legislative changes to the lending industry, and finding the customer a loan solution.
Qualifications
• Diploma of Finance and Mortgage Broking Management
• Bachelor of Communications (Public relations)
Memberships
Clare is a member of the Mortgage & Finance Association of Australia (MFAA) and Women in Banking and Finance.
Getting personal
Clare was born and raised in the eastern suburbs of Sydney before making the move to the north shore. She is a keen long distance ocean swimmer and loves a run in the park with her two Great Danes.
Start making smarter financial decisions
MENTOR1 today to see how we can ensure you achieve your financial and life goals.